How Much Exercise Does Your Dog Need?

 In addition to nutritious, premium dogfood like TopTail the most important aspect of your dog’s health is adequate exercise but how much exercise does my dog need?

The short answer to this question is a minimum of 30 minutes but if you want a healthy and active dog you should ideally aim for at least 60 minutes of activity per day. Walking or running is very important exercise for dogs. Even if you have a yard and they play around every day, try to still get out for walks.

Relying solely on the yard play for your dog’s exercise can lead to problems as dogs can become territorial, destructive due to boredom and develop a habit or barking at the “unknown”. If solely kept in enclosed spaces, dogs can become less confident and comfortable with new people, pets and experiences that they aren’t exposed to on a regular basis.” The more we learn about the benefits of exercise, it seems there are few areas of our own lives and health that aren’t improved by physical activity and dogs are no exception to this.

Exercise can assist with weight management, it can alleviate stress and help many ailments and it is also vitally important to a dog’s mental health and, ultimately, their behaviour.

How Much Exercise Do Puppies Need?

You might have noticed that your puppy breaks into “zoomies” several times a day. These are easily identified by the crazy racing around the house which is usually followed by collapsing into a puppy pile for a recharging sleep.

Puppies generally have more energy than adult dogs they require frequent but short energy burning sessions— like the zoomies. As they grow, several short walks or play sessions throughout the day is a better choice than going for one really long walk, because the long walk might be too hard on your puppy’s developing body. Granted every puppy is different, so the more time you spend with your pup the more you will learn about how much exercise she needs to keep her happy! Exercise is a great way to train and socialize your new dog into a group or a new living environment.

How Much Exercise Do Adults Dogs Need?

You might be wondering what about your adult dog, great question! Your dog’s breed heavily influences the level of physical activity he needs. High-energy, “working” type breeds, such as Border Collies and Huskies will need a lot more exercise than low-energy, “lounging around” type breeds like the Bulldogs or Basset Hounds.

The Role That Breed Plays

Knowing the characteristics and exercise requirements of a breed is very important when choosing a puppy because it is not a good idea to buy an active dog if you are a couch potato and it would be unrealistic to expect your handbag Yorkie to join you for marathon training – unless of course you are planning to carry him in a backpack.

Exercise provides all dogs with mental stimulation and keeps them active, which can help prolong their lives and reduce the risk of obesity. Should your adult dog have a medical condition, such as hip dysplasia or respiratory issues, do your research and find an exercise routine that will help him stay healthy without causing him discomfort.

Keeping the Balance Right

The right balance of yard play and walking time is unique to every pet, family, home environment, neighbourhood and lifestyle. Some dogs might prefer the familiarity of their own yard, while others quickly become bored and thrive when walked and even going for a run. Whatever you do, be consistent and make activities fun, not a chore. Exercise is as much about your dog’s well-being as it is about bonding with your companion so find something you and your pupper like and enjoy your time together!

Because your dog’s wellbeing is important to you, achieving all the health and other benefits that exercise offers is so much more fun and meaningful when doing it together – so it’s truly a win-win situation.